To Be Perfect - The Woman's Body

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

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Date: __________________________

DECLARATION

I , hereby declare to the best of my knowledge that all the contents of this thesis represent my personal authentic work, and that no such thesis has been previously submitted for any academic examination or any other qualification. Additionally, it is a representation of my own personal opinions, and does not have anything to do with those of the University.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

TABLE OF CONTENTSiv

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION7

Background of the Study7

Issue7

Personal control belief and body dissatisfaction8

Research Aims and Objectives9

CHAPTER 02: LITERATURE REVIEW10

Feminist Theory10

Factors Affecting Body Image Concern11

Ethnicity11

Effect of media12

Protective factors for body dissatisfaction13

Western-idealized body image14

Environmental and cultural factors15

Socio-economic status16

Media influence16

CHAPTER 03: METHODOLOGY19

Overview19

Research Design19

Descriptive Research19

Exploratory Research20

CHAPTER 04: RESULT AND DISCUSSION21

Comparison of models21

Marylyn Monroe21

Early Career22

Sofia Loren23

CHAPTER 05: LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY26

CHAPTER 06: CONCLUSION AND FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS27

History behind the Issue28

The cultural body ideal30

REFERENCES31

APPENDIX35

Appendix A: List of Figures35

Appendix B: List of Tables38

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

“An hourglass” figure ”Pear shape” ”Petite”, these are all phrases commonly known to describe a woman's figure, Decades have past and the womanly figure has changed dramatically in size. The western world today has proven to be attracted to a much thinner and seemingly flawless woman. Marylyn Monroe in her time was said to be one of the most beautiful women in the world along with Sofia Loren. Is it Society that has changed what it is to be seen as “ the perfect body” it may be woman herself or it may be social media such as television, Newspapers and Magazines. I am almost certain if asked most men or women would find Marylyn Monroe and Sofia Loren attractive of course. This only touches on the task at hand. To find out through research, case studies and personal experience why women seem to be under an enormous amount of pressure to look a certain way as time goes on, also that this “look a certain way seems to change every few decades or so and really does get more impossible as the years of technology go on. Is Technology the problem can we women not quite keep up with the latest Photoshop or gym class? Is it all getting too much to contend with? These are many questions that need to be answered in order to feel close to an answer. Have woman actually changed the way that the look on an everyday basis or is that what we have been made to think by social media.

Issue

This may be one of the explanations to this arising issue. Fashion! Fashion may be to blame? Was it designers and fashion houses that took it upon themselves to shrink the size in which the clothes ...